Critical Report Lands Blair in New Iraq Trouble (Spy chiefs warned him)

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030911/wl_nm/iraq_britain_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

LONDON (Reuters) - A damning parliamentary report criticized a key British case for war in Iraq on Thursday and revealed that spy chiefs had warned Prime Minister Tony Blair an invasion would only increase the risk posed by terrorists.

The Intelligence and Security Committee said a now infamous claim that Iraq could deploy chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes was "unhelpful" because it did not make clear it referred only to short-range battlefield munitions.

The 45-minute claim was the most dramatic element of a September 2002 dossier that Blair used to counter intense public opposition to Britain joining a U.S. war against Saddam Hussein.

In a report issued on the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the committee also said intelligence officials warned Blair that invading Iraq would increase the risk of militants obtaining chemical or biological weapons.

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[mike_c]

1. the poodle was on a short leash...

...and had to jump through whatever hoops Bush* required in order to maintain his master's approval.

[Cha]

2. Like tony was going to pay attention to anything.

too busy being a poodle.